Yokozuna Hakuho on Tuesday suffered his first defeat of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, succumbing to top-ranked maegashira Hokutofuji in the biggest upset of the meet so far.
Fellow yokozuna Kakuryu continued his injury comeback in strong fashion, staying unbeaten on Day 3 of the 15-day tournament, but yokozuna Kisenosato continued to struggle with his second defeat at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Hakuho (2-1) was sent unceremoniously backpedaling with a frontal shove by maegashira Hokutofuji, who notched his first win here, a day after passing a stern test by his compatriot, first-ranked maegashira Ichinojo (1-2).